Egozi’s Fury – Israeli Authorities Unprepared for Storm

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I could have just copied what I wrote earlier, on the mess that is the long-dysfunctional Israeli emergency response authorities. But the magnitude of this fiasco demanded a separate review.

I recently mentioned how pointless all the Home Front Command drills are. And just then came a completely predictable snow storm and proved me more than right. Lack of preparation, lack of understanding, no coordination and not enough integrity to take responsibility, all these were the cause of all storm-related incidents over the weekend. Police, emergency medical services, fire fighters, municipalities, Home Front Command and other emergency response agencies, they all acted as if no other agency but them existed. Each worked hard, and in terrible conditions, but the disorder and the lack of coordination resulted in total chaos.

The failure is not just one of coordination, it’s also a failure to understand the situation. Once it was clear that thousands of people are stuck on the way to Jerusalem, and other places, the IDF should have deployed Home Front Command units extensively. That wasn’t done. When trucks were sent to rescue people on the road to Jerusalem we could see them in the evening news, climbing into open trucks that didn’t even provide a shelter from the freezing weather. It was clear that everything was done offhandedly, without thinking, only to cover some frozen asses. True, here and there we saw some brilliant rescues by army and police, but the lack of coordination – the mess, in other words – was still there.

The Electric Corporation fiasco was immense, as well. This ailing monopoly proved totally incapable of dealing with extreme situations. If Israel had several power companies the burden could have been shared. As it is the monopoly couldn’t have possibly restored power in a reasonable amount of time.

The State Comptroller announced he will investigate, but he might as well just give it up. His report will probably be thorough, with a colorful binding, and will join other reports published after the Carmel fires and other emergencies. Just imagine what would happen if several missiles or rockets were to hit central Israel. How would the emergency response agencies act? Every agency will act on its own, too, and we won’t have power for days, maybe no drinking water as well.

But no one ever learns from their mistakes in Israel. “The Prime Minister gave instructions to keep transportation routes open.” That’s great. And that was the extent of the Prime Minister’s involvement. Instead of calling an emergency meeting and demanding an improved emergency response procedure within five hours, he did nothing. This fiasco’s “supertanker” was his “instructions”. If it wasn’t so tragic it could have been a decent joke.

IHLS – Israel Homeland Security

And after I mentioned the impotent, I have to mention the moronic. “We wanted to see snow so we headed out to Jerusalem”, there are too many criminally stupid people in Israel who think they’re smarter than everyone else. The warning not to come near Jerusalem was very clear, but they believed they could do it. So they got stuck in the massive traffic blockages. These morons are the cousins of those who go on vacations to Sinai despite terror warnings. After something goes wrong they’ll complain that the Israeli commando units didn’t rescue them quickly enough.

So we’re always prepared for the last war in stead of the next, and it’s the same with the weather as well. There was some preparation, but not for anything more than a few snowflakes. “It doesn’t make sense, investing in equipment that will be used for two days a year”, that incredibly stupid argument was made by many decision makers. Hundreds of snow plows and rescue vehicles could have been purchased and it still would have cost less than what the storm cost us. But stupidity rules, and that’s how it looked last night, when tens of thousands of Israelis spent the weekend without power.

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon visited the Jerusalem Municipality’s ready room, and in response to the criticism over the readiness situation said that “It’s certainly not a fiasco of any sort.” In his ready room briefing the Defense Minister said that lessons should be learned, but he stressed that: “The storm’s magnitude and consequences surprised us, but the response was quick.” On the State Comptroller’s intention to investigate the relevant authorities, Yaalon said that we should act “not according to boards of inquiry, but according to what’s necessary.” He’s right. There was, in fact, a massive fiasco, and it’s necessary for someone to pay the price – but no one would. The ones who pay are the citizens, as always.

Later, the Internal Security Minister said that it’s not the time to talk about a fiasco, but that lessons would be learned. The police chief said that people shouldn’t complain so much. A lot of talk, no substance. This fiasco is massive, but I can guarantee that absolutely nothing will change.